Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has warned that the Turkana oil project could become the biggest corruption scandal in Kenya’s history if urgent action is not taken.
Speaking during a live Citizen TV interview, the ODM Secretary General said what is happening around the project raises serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and the future benefits for Kenyans.
Sifuna explained that his concerns emerged while preparing to travel to Turkana with members of the Senate Energy Committee.
The team was scheduled to conduct public participation on the Field Development Plan for the oil project, a key process meant to involve local communities and stakeholders.
According to the senator, it was during these preparations that worrying signs began to appear.He claimed that just days before the Ministry of Energy approved the Field Development Plan, there were sudden changes in the ownership structure of the oil company that had been cleared to implement the project.
Sifuna described these changes as suspicious, especially given the size and importance of the Turkana oil reserves. He questioned why such major ownership shifts would happen at such a critical stage without clear public explanation.
The senator said the situation became even more alarming after the plan was approved. He alleged that the original contractual terms were altered soon after, including a major adjustment to the cost recovery rate.
According to Sifuna, the rate was allegedly increased from 55 percent to 85 percent within a very short time.
He warned that this change would greatly reduce the amount of revenue Kenya could earn from its oil resources.Sifuna stated that such drastic changes are not normal and should automatically attract attention from oversight institutions.
He said Parliament, regulators, and investigative bodies should immediately step in to review how these decisions were made and who benefits from them. He added that failing to act now could mean Kenyans will never enjoy the value of the oil discovered in Turkana.
He further stressed that oil exploration should be a turning point for the country, especially for the people of Turkana who have waited for years to see real development from the resource found in their land.
Instead, he warned, poor governance and possible corruption could leave communities with nothing to show for it.
His remarks have reopened debate on how extractive projects are governed in Kenya. Calls are now growing for full transparency, independent audits, and strong parliamentary oversight to protect public interest and ensure the country does not lose out on its natural resources.
